REAL LIFE NEWS: EAT MY COMPUTER
by Hazed
A new medical device that has just been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration is a computer in a pill. You swallow it and it is used to monitor your health – from the inside.
The Ingestion Event Marker is a silicon sensor about 1mm square that is encased in a pill. When stomach acid reaches the sensor it acts as an electrolyte and generates a couple of volts of power. The chip emits a tone that can be picked up by a patch worn on the outside of the body, which then relays the sensor’s data to a mobile phone app. The sensor is designed to ensure medication is taken correctly and on time by providing a log of ingestion.
The sensor passes through the body “like high-fiber food” according to the manufacturer, Proteus Digital, so it’s not designed for sustained operation. Still, it’s a landmark decision by the FDA that should lead to more sophisticated edible computers in the future.
Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/01/fda_clears_edible_computer/
